JP6395547B2 - Sheet feeding device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a sheet supply apparatus that raises a number of stacked sheets and supplies the uppermost sheet to a processing apparatus.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, for example, a sheet supply apparatus that is attached to a printing machine and supplies sheets as printing media to a printing apparatus holds a large number of sheets in a stacked state as described in Patent Document 1, and these In this configuration, the uppermost sheet is supplied to the printing unit. The stacked sheets are placed on a loading table of a lifting device via a loading plate. The loading platform gradually moves up as the sheets are consumed.

  Sheet replenishment is performed by supporting the sheet on a plurality of bars called skewers instead of the stacking plate, and lowering the stacking base in this state and positioning it at the replenishment position. The replenishment sheet is sent to the replenishment position by the carriage in a state where it is placed on the loading board in advance, and is transferred from the carriage to the loading board together with the loading board. Then, the replenishment sheet is raised together with the stacking table, and is stacked on the upper sheet from below in a state where the skewer pin is sandwiched. After that, the skewer bar is pulled out to complete the sheet supply operation.

  On the other hand, in a sheet discharge apparatus that discharges a sheet printed by a printing apparatus, a detector that detects intrusion into the sheet discharge apparatus is provided as described in Patent Document 2. That is, during operation, the sheet discharge device stops the printing machine including the sheet discharge device when the detector detects that, for example, a sheet pickup carriage or other moving object has entered the sheet discharge device. Configuration is adopted. By stopping the sheet discharging device in this way, there is no risk of the article coming off and dropping due to vibration or the like at the top of the sheet discharging device, so that a carriage or other moving object that has entered the sheet discharging device is damaged. Can be prevented.

Japanese Patent Publication No.7-57646 International Publication No. WO2004 / 078626 A1

  However, since the conventional sheet supply apparatus as disclosed in Patent Document 1 described above is an apparatus intended to improve productivity by performing a sheet replenishing operation without stopping operation, Patent Document 1 When the detector disclosed in Fig. 2 is applied, the sheet supply is stopped only when a moving object enters the lower part of the loading table. There was a problem that it could not be achieved.

  The present invention has been made to solve such a problem, and an object of the present invention is to provide a sheet feeding apparatus capable of avoiding a collision with a fallen object without reducing productivity.

  In order to achieve this object, a sheet feeding apparatus according to the present invention has a hoistway that rises in a state where a large number of sheets are stacked, and performs sheet processing on the uppermost sheet in the uppermost part of the hoistway. A sheet supply unit to be supplied to the apparatus, an entrance opening that allows the sheet supply unit including the hoistway to enter the internal space, an upper region in the hoistway where the sheet being supplied exists, and a new supply A fall prevention member configured to be able to be put in and out of a middle part between the lower area where the sheets are stacked and the fall prevention member is divided into the upper area and the lower area, and from the upper area A drive device that moves between an operating position for receiving a fallen object and a retreat position for retreating from the hoistway, first detection means for detecting the position of the fall prevention member, and a lower region. And a second detection means for detecting an object passing through the entry opening, and the first detection means detecting that the fall prevention member is not located at the operating position. When the second detection means detects an object, the operation of the sheet supply unit is disabled, the sheet supply unit is stopped, and the fall prevention member is positioned at the operating position. In a state where the detection means is detecting, a control device that enables the operation of the sheet supply unit is provided.

  The present invention provides the sheet supply apparatus, wherein a stacking board that supports a stacking plate on which sheets are stacked and lifts the hoistway, a lifting drive that lifts the stacking board, and the upper region that is the drop The control device further comprises third detection means for detecting an object in the vicinity of the prevention member and fourth detection means for detecting an object in the lower region and in the vicinity of the fall prevention member. The driving device is configured to stop the elevating driving device when the third detection unit or the fourth detection unit detects an object during driving of the driving device, and to position the fall prevention member at the retracted position. It is also possible to control the operation.

According to the present invention, in the sheet supply apparatus, the control device detects the object by the third detection unit and does not detect the object by the fourth detection unit when the stacking table is lowered. In the falling object detection state, the first control unit that stops the lifting drive device, the second control unit that positions the fall prevention member at the retracted position in the falling object detection state, and the falling object prevention member A third control unit that operates the elevating drive device so that the loading platform is lowered while being positioned at the retreat position, and the third detection unit from a state in which the third detection unit detects an object. When the fourth detection means shifts to a state where an object is detected through a state where the object is not detected, and the fourth detection means which has detected the object shifts to a state where the object is not detected The fall The stop member may have a fourth control unit positioned at the operating position.

In the sheet supply apparatus according to the aspect of the invention, the control device may be configured such that the fourth detection unit detects an object and the third detection unit does not detect an object when the stacking table is raised. In the rising object detection state, the fifth control unit that stops the lifting drive device, the sixth control unit that positions the fall prevention member at the retracted position in the rising object detection state, and the falling object prevention member A seventh control unit that operates the elevating drive device so that the loading platform ascends while being positioned at the retreat position; and the fourth detection unit from a state in which the fourth detection unit detects an object. When the third detection means shifts to a state where an object is detected through a state where the object is not detected, and the third detection means which has detected the object shifts to a state where the object is not detected The fall The stop member may have a control unit of the eighth position in the operating position.

In the present invention, the fall prevention member positioned at the operating position blocks the fallen object in the hoistway at the intermediate part and prevents the fallen object from falling into the lower region.
For this reason, since the collision between the object in the lower region and the falling object can be avoided by positioning the fall prevention member at the operating position, the lower region can be accessed even during operation. Therefore, according to the present invention, in the state where the fall prevention member is positioned at the operating position, even if an object enters the lower region, the sheet supply does not stop, so that the productivity is not reduced. It is possible to provide a sheet feeding device that can avoid a collision with a falling object.

It is a side view which shows the structure of the sheet supply apparatus which concerns on this invention. It is a rear view of a sheet supply apparatus. It is a top view which shows the principal part of a sheet supply apparatus. FIG. 3 shows a state in which the fall prevention member is located at the operating position. It is a top view which expands and shows the principal part of a sheet supply apparatus. FIG. 4 shows a state where the fall prevention member is located at the retracted position. It is a side view which expands and shows the principal part of a sheet supply apparatus. FIG. 5 shows a state where the fall prevention member is located at the operating position. It is a side view which expands and shows the principal part of a sheet supply apparatus. FIG. 6 shows a state where the fall prevention member is located at the retracted position. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the control system of the sheet supply apparatus which concerns on this invention. It is a flowchart for demonstrating operation | movement of the supply operation control part of a control apparatus. It is a flowchart for demonstrating operation | movement of the replenishment operation control part of a control apparatus. It is a flowchart for demonstrating operation | movement when a mounting base descends. It is a flowchart for demonstrating operation | movement when a mounting base raises.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of a sheet feeding apparatus according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS.
A sheet supply apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 1 is an apparatus attached to a sheet-fed printing machine, and supplies a sheet 3 as a printing medium to a printing apparatus 2 of the sheet-fed printing machine. In this embodiment, the printing apparatus 2 constitutes a “sheet processing apparatus” in the present invention.

  The sheet supply apparatus 1 includes a sheet supply unit 5 to which a feeder board 4 for sending a sheet 3 to the printing apparatus 2 is connected, and a spare sheet stacking unit 6 provided adjacent to the sheet supply unit 5. The spare sheet stacking unit 6 is used for positioning and stacking a large number of sheets 3 in the front-rear direction and the left-right direction, and is provided in a travel path 8 of a carriage 7 that transports the sheets 3 to the sheet supply unit 5. Yes. In the following, the direction in which the carriage 7 travels toward the sheet supply unit 5 is referred to as the front, and the direction opposite to this direction, that is, the direction in which the carriage 7 is separated from the sheet supply unit 5 is referred to as the rear. Moreover, the left-right direction described below is the left-right direction in a state where the cart 7 moving forward is viewed from behind.

  The sheet 3 is loaded on the carriage 7 via a loading plate 11. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the loading plate 11 is formed in a shape in which both ends in the left-right direction protrude laterally from the carriage 7 and is detachably mounted on the carriage 7. A plurality of concave grooves 11 a that open upward are formed on the upper surface of the stacking plate 11. These concave grooves 11 a extend in the front-rear direction from the front end to the rear end of the stacking plate 11.

  The spare sheet stacking unit 6 according to this embodiment is provided with a plurality of support columns 12 (see FIG. 1) standing on the left side and the right side of the travel path 8 described above, and these support columns 12. A front abutting member 13 and a lateral abutting member 14 are provided. The front abutting member 13 is a plate-like member extending in the vertical direction that aligns the position of the seat 3 in the front-rear direction, and the front end of the seat 3 on the cart 7 and the front edge of the stacking plate 11 abut on the front of the cart 7. It is movable between a use position and a retreat position that retreats to the side of the travel path 8.

  The lateral support member 14 is for aligning the position of the seat 3 in the left-right direction, and is movable between a use position that hits both ends of the seat 3 in the left-right direction and a retracted position that retracts to the side of the seat 3. . A large number of sheets 3 placed on the loading plate 11 on the carriage 7 are positioned in the front-rear direction when the front end abuts against the front abutting member 13, and the left-right direction is determined when both ends in the left-right direction abut against the lateral abutting member 14. Is positioned. Although not shown, the loading plate 11 is positioned with respect to the carriage 7 by fitting a pin and a pin hole.

  The sheet 3 placed on the carriage 7 moves forward on the traveling path 8, passes through the entry opening 15 (see FIG. 2) of the sheet supply unit 5, and proceeds to the sheet supply position P in the sheet supply unit 5. The sheet is fed into the sheet supply unit 5. At this time, the carriage 7 enters the notch 16 a (see FIG. 2) of the stacking table 16 that is lowered in advance to the floor surface in the sheet supply unit 5. The notch portion 16a is formed in a shape that is opened rearward. Further, at this time, the protruding portion 11b protruding from the carriage 7 to the side of the loading plate 11 overlaps with the loading table 16 when viewed from above.

  The stacking table 16 constitutes a part of a pile lifting device 22 that uses a pile lifting motor 21 positioned at the upper end of the sheet supply unit 5 as a power source. The loading table 16 is raised or lowered in the sheet supply unit 5 by the power of the pile lifting motor 21. When the loading table 16 is raised while the carriage 7 is stopped at the sheet supply position P, the loading plate 11 is supported by the loading table 16 and rises together with the loaded sheets 3.

As shown in FIG. 1, the sheet supply unit 5 includes a pile lifting device 22 described above, a lifting path 23 in which a stacked sheet 3 moves up and down, and a soccer device 24 positioned above the lifting path 23. And a skewer actuating device 25 located in front of the hoistway 23 and a fall prevention device 26 located in the middle of the hoistway 23.
The hoistway 23 has such a size that the above-described stacking plate 11 can pass through, and extends in the vertical direction between the floor surface and the uppermost part of the sheet supply unit 5. The hoistway 23 is included in the internal space S of the sheet supply unit 5. The sheet supply unit 5 is surrounded by a wall member (not shown) except for the entry opening 15 described above. That is, the entry opening 15 is the only opening that allows entry into the internal space S of the sheet supply unit 5 including the hoistway 23. The entrance opening 15 according to this embodiment is formed at a lower portion of the sheet supply unit 5 and corresponding to the lower region 23 a of the hoistway 23.

  The soccer device 24 sucks the sheets 3 positioned at the top of the hoistway 23 one by one and sends them to the feeder board 4 in front. The sheet 3 is sent to the printing apparatus 2 by the feeder board 4. The operation of the soccer device 24 is controlled by a control device 27 (see FIG. 7) described later.

The pile lifting device 22 lifts the loading table 16 by rotating a chain (not shown) connected to the loading table 16 by a sprocket (not shown) engaged with the chain by the power of the pile lifting motor 21. Alternatively, it is configured to be lowered. Here, the pile lifting / lowering motor 22, a chain (not shown), a sprocket (not shown), and the loading table 16 constitute a pile lifting / lowering device 22. The operation of the pile lifting / lowering motor 21 is controlled by a control device 27 described later.
The pile lifting motor 21 raises the stacking table 16, so that the stacked sheets 3 are lifted in the hoistway 23 together with the stacking table 16 and the stacking plate 11. In this embodiment, the pile lifting device 22 constitutes the “lifting driving device” as defined in the invention of claim 2.

  The skewer actuating device 25 temporarily supports the sheet 3 when the sheet 3 is replenished. The skewer actuator 25 according to this embodiment includes a plurality of skewers 31 for supporting the seat 3. FIG. 1 is drawn with the sheet 3 supported on the skewer bar 31. The plurality of skewers 31 are arranged in the left-right direction at a predetermined interval in a state of extending in the front-rear direction, and between the use position shown in FIG. 1 and the retreat position where it is pulled out from the seat 3 and retreated forward. It is movable. The skewer actuating device 25 is controlled by a control device 27 to be described later when the remaining amount of the sheet 3 currently being supplied is reduced to a predetermined minimum amount, and starts operating, and the skewer 31 is used from the retracted position. Move to position. The remaining amount of the sheet 3 is detected by using a loading table position detection sensor 32 (see FIG. 1) provided in the hoistway 23.

  The skewer 31 is inserted into the concave groove 11 a formed on the upper surface of the stacking plate 11 by proceeding from the retracted position to the use position. That is, the skewer 31 is inserted between the stacking plate 11 and the sheet 3 by proceeding to the use position. The skewer actuating device 25 has a function of supporting and lifting the skewer 31 in a state where it is in the use position. The skewer actuating device 25 moves the skewer 31 gradually upward according to the consumption of the sheet 3. In this state, the sheet 3 is replenished by lowering the loading table 16 to the floor surface. The operation of the skewer actuating device 25 is controlled by a control device 27 described later.

The fall prevention device 26 is disposed in an intermediate portion 23b that bisects the hoistway 23 in the vertical direction. Hereinafter, the area above the fall prevention device 26 is referred to as an upper area 23c where the sheet 3 being supplied is present. A lower region 23 a of the hoistway 23 is a region below the fall prevention device 26. A new sheet 3 for replenishment is carried into the lower area 23 a while being loaded on the carriage 7.
As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the fall prevention device 26 according to this embodiment includes a plate-like fall prevention member 33 extending in the horizontal direction and the fall prevention member 33 in the front-rear direction (in FIGS. 3 and 4). A fall prevention member driving device 34 that is moved in the left-right direction) is provided.

  As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the fall prevention member 33 is formed in a rectangular shape as viewed from above, and is driven by a fall prevention member driving device 34 described later, whereby an upper region 23 c of the hoistway 23. And the lower region 23a are moved between an operating position (see FIG. 3) and a retracted position (see FIG. 4) retracted backward from the hoistway 23. That is, the fall prevention member 33 is configured to be able to be taken in and out of the intermediate portion 23 b of the hoistway 23. The fall prevention member 33 positioned at the operating position receives a fallen object from the upper region 23c.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 to 6, the fall prevention member driving device 34 includes a front support plate 35 that supports the front end portion of the fall prevention member 33 and a rear support plate 36 that supports the rear end portion of the fall prevention member 33. And a pair of left and right connecting rods 37, 37 for connecting the front support plate 35 and the rear support plate 36, an air cylinder 38 connected to the front support plate 35, and the like. In this embodiment, the fall prevention member driving device 34 constitutes a “driving device” in the present invention.

The front support plate 35 and the rear support plate 36 each support the fall prevention member 33 via a plurality of brackets 39.
The connecting rod 37 penetrates the bearing member 40 and extends horizontally in the front-rear direction. The bearing member 40 has a function of movably supporting the connecting rod 37 and is fixed to a plate-like support member 41 extending in the left-right direction of the sheet supply unit 5. As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the plate-like support member 41 is supported by the first frame member 43 of the sheet supply unit 5 via a connecting member 42 extending rearward. The first frame member 43 is fixed to the traveling path 8 by a support column 44 (see FIG. 1) extending in the vertical direction.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the front end of the connecting rod 37 protrudes forward from the front support plate 35. The protrusion 37a is fitted to the holder 45 from the rear in a state where the fall prevention member 33 is located at the operating position (see FIG. 3). The holder 45 is for supporting the front part of the fall prevention member 33 and the fall prevention member driving device 34 located at the operation position, and is fixed to the second frame member 46 extending in the left-right direction of the sheet supply unit 5. Has been. The second frame member 46 is also fixed to the traveling path 8 by a plurality of columns (not shown).

  As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the air cylinder 38 includes a piston rod 47 whose tip is fixed to the front support plate 35, and a cylinder body 48 that moves the piston rod 47 forward or backward. A front end portion of the cylinder body 48 is fixed to the plate-like support member 41 described above. The piston rod 47 passes through the plate-like support member 41. The rear end portion of the cylinder body 48 is supported by a third frame member 49 extending in the left-right direction at the rear portion of the sheet supply unit 5 via a bracket (not shown). The operation of the air cylinder 38 (operation of the fall prevention member driving device 34) is controlled by a control device 27 described later.

As shown in FIG. 7, the control device 27 includes a supply start switch 50, a soccer device 24, a pile lifting motor 21, a skewer actuator 25, a fall prevention member driving device 34 (air resinder 38), a first To fourth detection means 51 to 54, a loading platform position detection sensor 32, an automatic pile raising switch 55, and the like.
The supply start switch 50 is for starting the operation of each apparatus of the sheet supply unit 5.

Although the details will be described later, the control device 27 is used to detect the state of the sheet supply unit 5. The control device 27 is used to detect the first to fourth detection means 51. The operation of each device of the sheet supply unit 5 is controlled based on the detection results of .about.54.
The first detection means 51 is for detecting the position of the fall prevention member 33. The fall prevention member 33 moves between the operating position and the retracted position as described above. For this reason, the first detecting means 51 detects that the fall preventing member 33 is positioned at the operating position, and that the operating position detector 56 is positioned at the retracted position. A retraction position detector 57 for detection is provided.

  The operating position detector 56 and the retracted position detector 57 are constituted by limit switches in this embodiment. As shown in FIG. 5, the operating position detector 56 is attached to the second frame member 46 described above. The operation position detector 56 detects that the fall prevention member 33 is positioned at the operation position by contacting the front bar member 58 provided on the front support plate 35 of the fall prevention member driving device 26. The detection result is sent to the control device 27 as a signal.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the retracted position detector 57 is attached to the plate-like support member 41 described above. The retreat position detector 57 detects that the fall prevention member 33 is positioned at the retreat position by abutting the rear bar member 59 provided on the front support plate 35 of the fall prevention member driving device 26. The detection result is sent to the control device 27 as a signal.

  The second detection means 52 is for detecting an object passing through the entry opening 15 of the sheet supply unit 5. The 2nd detection means 52 is comprised by the 1st-4th area sensors 61-64 arranged in the up-down direction, as shown in FIG. The first to fourth area sensors 61 to 64 have light emitting elements 61 a to 64 a provided on the right side of the entry opening 15 and light receiving elements 61 b to 64 b provided on the left side of the entry opening 15. The optical paths L1 to L2 of the first to fourth area sensors 61 to 64 cross the entrance opening 15 in the left-right direction, respectively. These four optical paths L <b> 1 to L <b> 4 are arranged at positions spaced apart from each other in the vertical direction between the upper edge of the entry opening 15 and the travel path 8. The first to fourth area sensors 61 to 64 detect objects that pass through the entrance opening 15 and block the optical paths L1 to L4, and send detection results as signals to the control device 27, respectively.

The third detection means 53 is for detecting an elevating object that passes near the upper part of the fall prevention device 26. Examples of the lift are the loading table 16, the loading plate 11, and the sheet 3 on the loading plate 11. As shown in FIG. 3, the third detection means 53 includes an optical sensor 65 in which the optical path L5 is located in the upper region 23c of the hoistway 23 and in the vicinity of the fall prevention member 33 located at the operating position. Yes. Hereinafter, this sensor is referred to as an upper side sensor 65. The upper side sensor 65 is configured by a light emitting / receiving element. The light emitted from the upper sensor 65 is reflected by the reflecting plate 66 and returns to the upper sensor 65.
As shown in FIG. 5, the upper side sensor 65 is attached to one end portion (right end portion) of the second frame member 46 in the left-right direction. The reflection plate 66 is attached to the other end of the plate-like support member 41 in the left-right direction. For this reason, the optical path L5 obliquely crosses the hoistway 23 as viewed from above.

The fourth detection means 54 is for detecting a lift that passes near the lower part of the fall prevention device 26. As shown in FIG. 3, the fourth detection means 54 includes an optical sensor 67 in which the optical path L6 is located in the lower region 23a of the hoistway 23 and in the vicinity of the fall prevention member 33 located at the operating position. Yes. Hereinafter, this sensor is referred to as a lower side sensor 67. The lower side sensor 67 is constituted by a light emitting / receiving element. The light emitted from the lower side sensor 67 is reflected by the reflecting plate 68 and returns to the lower side sensor 67.
As shown in FIG. 5, the lower side sensor 67 is attached to the other end portion (left end portion) of the second frame member 46 in the left-right direction. The reflection plate 68 is attached to one end of the plate-like support member 41 in the left-right direction. For this reason, the optical path L6 obliquely crosses the hoistway 23 in a state intersecting with the optical path L5 of the upper side sensor 65 as viewed from above.

As shown in FIG. 7, the control device 27 includes a supply operation control unit 71, a lowering operation control unit 72, an ascending operation control unit 73, and the like.
Based on the detection results of the first detection means 51 and the second detection means 52, the supply operation control unit 71 performs operations of the pile lifting motor 21, the soccer device 24, the skewer operation device 25, and the like in the flowchart of FIG. Control as shown in Here, the operation of the supply operation control unit 71 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  First, in step S1 of the flowchart shown in FIG. 8, the supply operation control unit 71 determines whether or not the fall prevention member 33 is positioned at the operating position by the first detection unit 51. If the fall prevention member 33 is not positioned at the operating position, whether the supply operation control unit 71 detects an object in the second detection means 52, in other words, whether the object has entered the entry opening 15. It is determined whether or not (step S2).

At this time, when at least one of the first to fourth area sensors 61 to 64 of the second detection unit 52 detects an object, the supply operation control unit 71 performs each device of the sheet supply unit 5 in step S3. Stop. The devices that stop at this time are a pile lifting motor 21, a soccer device 24, and a skewer actuating device 25. That is, the supply operation control unit 71 detects the sheet when the second detection unit 52 detects an object while the first detection unit 51 detects that the fall prevention member 33 is not in the operating position. The operation of the supply unit 5 is disabled. “Disable” here means stopping when the sheet supply unit 5 is in operation, and prohibiting operation when the sheet supply unit 5 is in operation.
For this reason, when any object enters the entry opening 15 in a state where the fall prevention member 33 is not located at the operating position when the sheet supply unit 5 is operating, the sheet supply apparatus 1 stops.

  When the sheet supply unit 5 is not in operation, that is, when the pile lifting motor 21, the soccer device 24, and the skewer actuating device 25 are stopped, the supply start switch 50 and the pile automatic raising switch 55 are set. Even if operated, the pile elevating motor 21, the soccer device 24, and the skewer operating device 25 do not operate. Thus, when the fall prevention member 33 is positioned at the retracted position, the sheet supply unit 5 becomes inoperable.

  If it is determined in step S1 that the fall prevention member 33 is in the operating position, the supply operation control unit 71 operates the sheet supply unit 5 regardless of the detection result of the second detection unit 52 (step S1). S4). That is, in the state where the first detection unit 51 detects that the fall prevention member 33 is positioned at the operating position, the supply operation control unit 71 passes the object opening 15 and the sheet supply unit. The sheet supply unit 5 can be operated even if it enters the internal space S of 5 and the hoistway 23. In order to enable the sheet supply unit 5 to operate, a virtual non-detection state in which the optical paths L1 to L4 of the second detection unit 52 are not obstructed by any object in the supply operation control unit 71 is performed. It can also be realized by stopping the second detection means 52.

  In step S <b> 4, the supply operation control unit 71 causes the pile lifting motor 21, the soccer device 24, the skewer operation device 25, and the like to perform a sheet supply operation. The “sheet supply operation” is a state in which the sheet 3 is attracted to the soccer device 24 from the upper end portion in the hoistway 23 and is sent to the feeder board 4 and an operation targeting the state. The sheet supply operation is executed by the supply operation control unit 71 operating as shown in the flowchart of FIG. The flowchart of FIG. 9 shows the operation of the supply operation control unit 71 after the sheet 3 is attracted to the soccer device 24 and sent to the feeder board 4 and the stacking base 16 is raised by the consumption of the sheet 3 for convenience. .

  The supply operation control unit 71 operates the soccer device 24 and raises the loading platform 16 by a predetermined amount in Step P1 of the flowchart of FIG. 9, and then, based on the detection result of the loading platform position detection sensor 32 in Step P2. Then, it is determined whether or not the position of the loading table 16 has reached the replenishment position. The replenishment position is the position of the stacking table 16 when the sheet 3 being supplied reaches a predetermined remaining amount. The supply operation control unit 71 proceeds to Step P3 when the loading table 16 reaches the replenishment position, and operates the skewer actuating device 25.

  The skewer actuating device 25 moves the skewer 31 to the use position and supports the sheet 3 on the skewer 31. Then, the skewer actuating device 25 gradually raises the skewer rod 31 according to the carry-out amount of the sheet 3 with the target of the state in which the uppermost sheet 3 is attracted and carried out by the soccer device 24. The supply operation control unit 71 continues operating the soccer device 24 even when the skewer actuating device 25 is operating. That is, even when the sheet 3 is supported by the skewer 31, the sheet supply operation is continued.

  In a state where the sheet 3 is supported by the skewer 31 and the sheet supply operation is performed, the supply operation control unit 71 proceeds to Step P4 and causes the pile lifting motor 21 to execute the supply operation of the sheet 3. In step P4, the supply operation control unit 71 operates the pile lifting motor 21 to lower the stacking table 16. Although the details will be described later when the loading platform 16 is lowered, the operation of the fall prevention member driving device 34 is controlled by the lowering operation control unit 72. At this time, the fall prevention member 33 temporarily moves to the retracted position as the loading table 16 approaches, and returns to the operating position after the loading table 16 and the loading plate 11 have passed.

  When the loading table 16 descends to the floor surface that is the bottom of the hoistway 23, the supply operation control unit 71 stops the pile elevating motor 21 (step P5) and waits until the pile automatic ascent switch 55 is operated by the operator. (Step P6). After the loading table 16 descends to the floor surface, the operator removes the loading plate 11 on the loading table 16, and feeds the carriage 7 having the new loading plate 11 and the replenishment sheet 3 from the entrance opening 15 to the hoistway 23. Advance to position P. At this time, since the fall prevention member 33 is located at the operating position, even if the worker or the carriage 7 blocks the optical paths L1 to L4 of the second detection means 52, the supply operation control unit 71 performs the second detection. Regardless of the detection result of the means 52, the sheet feeding operation is continued.

After the loading table 16 is lowered to the floor surface, an operator (not shown) carries the cart 7 on which the replenishment sheet 3 is loaded into the sheet supply unit 5 from the entrance opening 15. After the carriage 7 is stopped at the sheet supply position P, the operator turns on the automatic pile raising switch 55.
When the automatic pile raising switch 55 is turned on, in step P7, the supply operation control unit 71 operates the pile raising / lowering motor 21 to raise the stacking table 16. As the loading table 16 moves up, the loading table 16 pushes up the loading plate 11 from the carriage 7, and the replenishment sheet 3 moves up in the hoistway 23.

When the loading table 16 is raised, the operation of the fall prevention member driving device 34 is controlled by the raising operation control unit 73 as will be described in detail later. At this time, the fall prevention member 33 temporarily moves to the retracted position as the sheet 3 approaches, and returns to the operating position after the stacking plate 11 and the stacking table 16 have passed.
The replenishment sheet 3 that rises together with the loading table 16 is pressed from below through the skewer bar 31 to the lower surface of the lowest sheet 3 on the skewer bar 31 on which the sheet feeding operation is performed.

  In this state, the supply operation control unit 71 temporarily stops the pile lifting motor 21 to operate the skewer actuating device 25 and moves the skewer 31 to the retracted position (step P8). Thus, when the skewer bar 31 moves to the retracted position, the stacking table 16 is in a state of supporting the weight of all the sheets 3. Thereafter, the supply operation control unit 71 returns to Step P1 and repeats the above-described operation. That is, the sheet supply operation is performed in a state where all the sheets 3 are supported on the stacking table 16.

The descending motion control unit 72 and the ascending motion control unit 73 stop the pile lifting motor 21 when the third detection means 53 or the fourth detection means 54 detects an object while the pile lifting motor 21 is being driven, and The operation of the fall prevention member driving device 34 is controlled so that the fall prevention member 33 is positioned at the retracted position.
The descending operation control unit 72 includes first to fifth functional units 81 to 84 that control operations of the pile lifting motor 21 and the fall prevention member driving device 34. Here, the configuration of the descending motion control unit 72 will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

The first functional unit 81 is arranged in a piled object detection state in which the third detection unit 53 detects an object and the fourth detection unit 54 does not detect an object when the loading table 16 is lowered. The lifting motor 21 is stopped. That is, the lowering operation control unit 72 operates the pile lifting motor 21 to lower the loading table 16 in Step P101 of the flowchart shown in FIG. Next, in step P102, it is determined whether or not the third detection means 53 is in a detection state in which an object is detected. If the determination result is YES, the pile lifting motor 21 is stopped. The first functional unit 81 corresponds to a “first control unit” according to the third aspect of the present invention.

The second functional unit 82 positions the fall prevention member 33 at the retracted position in the above-described falling object detection state. That is, the lowering operation control unit 72 operates the fall prevention member driving device 34 to move the fall prevention member 33 to the retracted position in Step P104 of the flowchart shown in FIG. The second function unit 82 corresponds to the “second control unit” in the invention described in claim 3. Since the fall prevention member 33 is positioned at the retreat position, the upper region 23c and the lower region 23a of the hoistway 23 are not partitioned, and a single space is formed. It becomes possible to move to 23a. Then, in the state where the fall prevention member 33 is positioned at the retracted position, according to the flow of FIG. 8, when an object enters the entrance opening 15 and the optical paths L1 to L4 of the second detection means 52 are blocked, The supply operation control unit 71 stops the sheet supply unit 5.

The third functional unit 83 operates the pile lifting / lowering motor 21 so that the stacking table 16 is lowered in a state where the fall prevention member 33 is positioned at the retracted position. That is, the lowering operation control unit 72 operates the pile lifting / lowering motor 21 to lower the loading table 16 in Step P105 of the flowchart shown in FIG. The third function unit 83 corresponds to a “third control unit” according to the third aspect of the present invention.

The fourth functional unit 84 is a fall prevention member when the fourth detection unit 54 that has detected an object shifts to a state in which no object is detected while the third detection unit 53 has not detected the object. 33 is positioned in the operating position. That is, the lowering operation control unit 72 determines whether or not the third detection unit 53 is in a non-detection state in Step P106 after lowering the loading table 16 in Step P105 of the flowchart shown in FIG. The third detection means 53 enters a non-detection state after the stacking plate 11 has passed. After the third detection unit 53 shifts from the detection state to the non-detection state, the descending operation control unit 72 determines whether or not the fourth detection unit 54 is in the detection state in Step P107. The fourth function unit 84 corresponds to the “fourth control unit” in the invention described in claim 3.

  The vertical length of the descending object combined with the loading table 16 and the loading plate 11 is shorter than the vertical distance between the optical path L5 of the third detection means 53 and the optical path L6 of the fourth detection means 54. Sometimes. For this reason, there is a state in which the descending object is located between the optical path L5 of the third detection means 53 and the optical path L6 of the fourth detection means 54. In this state, the third detection means 53 and the fourth detection means 54 are in a non-detection state. At this time, in order to prevent the fall prevention member 33 from being moved to the operating position, it is confirmed in step P107 whether or not the fourth detection means 54 is in a detection state. That is, when the falling object descends from the state in which neither the third detection means 53 nor the fourth detection means 54 is detected, the falling object passes through the fourth detection means 54.

  When the descending object blocks the optical path L6 of the fourth detection means 54, YES is determined in step P107, and the descending motion control unit 72 determines whether or not the fourth detection means 54 is in the non-detection state in step P108. To do. When the descending object descends below the optical path L6 of the fourth detection means 54, the process proceeds from step P108 to step P109, and the descending operation control unit 72 operates the fall preventing member driving device 34 to operate the fall preventing member 33. Move to position. Since the fall prevention member 33 is positioned at the operating position in this manner, the sheet supply unit 5 does not stop even if the carriage 7 is entered into the entry opening 15 according to the flow of FIG.

The ascending operation control unit 73 includes fifth to eighth function units 85 to 88 that control operations of the pile lifting motor 21 and the fall prevention member driving device 34. Here, the configuration of the ascending motion control unit 73 will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.
The fifth functional unit 85 is arranged in a pile detection state in which the fourth detection unit 54 detects an object and the third detection unit 53 does not detect an object when the loading table 16 is raised. The lifting motor 21 is stopped. That is, the lifting operation control unit 73 operates the pile lifting / lowering motor 21 to lift the loading table 16 in Step P201 of the flowchart shown in FIG. The fifth functional unit 85 corresponds to the “fifth control unit” in the invention described in claim 4. Next, in step P202, it is determined whether or not the fourth detection means 54 is in a detection state.

At this time, what is detected by the fourth detection means 54 is the upper end portion of the stacked sheets 3. If the determination result is YES, the pile lifting motor 21 is stopped in step P203.
The sixth functional unit 86 positions the fall prevention member 33 at the retracted position in the above-described rising object detection state. That is, the ascending operation control unit 73 operates the fall prevention member driving device 34 to move the fall prevention member 33 to the retracted position in Step P204 of the flowchart shown in FIG. The sixth function unit 86 corresponds to the “sixth control unit” in the invention described in claim 4. Since the fall prevention member 33 is positioned at the retracted position, the partition between the upper region 23c and the lower region 23a of the hoistway 23 is eliminated, and one space is formed, and the loading plate on which the loading table 16 and the loading sheet 3 are placed. 11 can move from the lower region 23a to the upper region 23c. Even in this case, when the optical paths L1 to L4 of the second detection unit 52 are blocked, the supply operation control unit 71 stops the sheet supply unit 5 according to the flow of FIG.

The seventh functional unit 87 operates the pile lifting / lowering motor 21 so that the stacking table 16 is raised in a state where the fall prevention member 33 is positioned at the retracted position. That is, the lifting operation control unit 73 operates the pile lifting / lowering motor 21 to lift the loading table 16 in step P205 of the flowchart shown in FIG. The seventh function unit 87 corresponds to the “seventh control unit” in the invention described in claim 4.
The eighth functional unit 88 is a fall prevention member when the third detection unit 53 that has detected the object shifts to a state in which no object is detected while the fourth detection unit 54 has not detected the object. 33 is positioned in the operating position. The eighth functional unit 88 corresponds to the “eighth control unit” according to the fourth aspect of the present invention.

  That is, the ascending operation control unit 73 determines whether or not the fourth detection unit 54 is in the non-detection state in Step P206 after raising the loading table 16 in Step P205 of the flowchart shown in FIG. The fourth detection means 54 enters a non-detection state after the loading table 16 has passed. After the fourth detection unit 54 shifts from the detection state to the non-detection state, the ascending operation control unit 73 determines whether or not the third detection unit 53 is in the detection state in Step P207.

  When the ascending object composed of the loading table 16, the loading plate 11, and the stacked sheets 3 blocks the optical path of the third detection means 53, it is determined YES in Step P207, and the ascending motion control unit 73 performs the third operation in Step P208. It is determined whether or not the detection means 53 is in a non-detection state. When there are a large number of replenishing sheets 3, the replenishing sheet 3 that rises with the loading table 16 is subjected to a sheet feeding operation in a state where the ascending object blocks the optical path 5 of the third detection means 53. The sheet supply operation may be performed by docking with the existing sheet 3. At this time, when the optical paths L1 to L4 of the second detection unit 52 are blocked, the supply operation control unit 71 stops the sheet supply unit 5 according to the flow of FIG.

  When the ascending object rises above the optical path L5 of the third detection means 53, the process proceeds from step P208 to step P209, and the ascending operation control unit 73 operates the anti-drop member driving device 34 to operate the anti-drop member 33. Move to position. Since the fall prevention member 33 is positioned at the operating position in this manner, the sheet supply unit 5 will not stop even if the carriage 7 enters the entrance opening 15.

In the sheet supply apparatus 1 configured as described above, the fall prevention member 33 positioned at the operating position blocks the fallen object in the hoistway 23 at the intermediate part 23b and prevents the fallen object from falling into the lower region 23a. To do.
For this reason, by positioning the fall prevention member 33 at the operating position, it is possible to avoid a collision between an object in the lower region 23a and a fallen object. Can be released. Therefore, according to this embodiment, in the state where the fall prevention member 33 is positioned at the operating position, the supply of the sheet 3 does not stop even if an object enters the lower region 23a. Therefore, it is possible to provide a sheet feeding apparatus that can avoid collision with a falling object without deteriorating the properties.

The sheet supply apparatus 1 according to this embodiment includes a stacking table 16 that supports the stacking plate 11 on which the sheets 3 are stacked and moves the hoistway 23 up and down, and a pile lifting apparatus 22 that moves the stacking table 16 up and down. . The sheet feeding apparatus 1 includes a third detection unit 53 that detects an object in the upper region 23c of the hoistway 23 and in the vicinity of the fall prevention member 33, and a lower region 23a in the vicinity of the fall prevention member 33. And a fourth detection means 54 for detecting an object.
The control device 27 stops the pile elevating device 22 when the third detecting unit 53 or the fourth detecting unit 54 detects an object while the pile elevating device 22 is being driven, and the fall preventing member 33 is set to the retracted position. The operation of the fall prevention member driving device 26 is controlled so as to be positioned.

  For this reason, when the loading table 16 descends or ascends, the lifting object including the loading table 16 does not come into contact with the fall prevention member 33. The lifted object refers to an object that moves up and down integrally such as the loading table 16, the loading plate 11, and the sheet 3 being supplied or the replenishment sheet 3 loaded on the loading plate 11. Therefore, the sheet supply apparatus 1 according to this embodiment can easily move the stacking table 16 up and down despite having the fall prevention member 33.

The control device 27 according to this embodiment has first to fourth functional units 81 to 84. The first functional unit 81 is arranged in a piled object detection state in which the third detection unit 53 detects an object and the fourth detection unit 54 does not detect an object when the loading table 16 is lowered. The lifting device 22 is stopped. The second functional unit 82 positions the fall prevention member 33 at the retracted position in the falling object detection state. The third functional unit 83 operates the pile elevating device 22 so that the loading table 16 is lowered in a state where the fall prevention member 33 is positioned at the retracted position. The fourth functional unit 84 is a fall prevention member when the fourth detection unit 54 that has detected an object shifts to a state in which no object is detected while the third detection unit 53 has not detected the object. 33 is positioned in the operating position.
In this embodiment, the fall prevention member 33 moves from the operating position to the retracted position while avoiding interference with the lifted object in the process of lowering the loading platform 16 and then returns to the operating position. Therefore, according to this embodiment, since the period during which the fall prevention member 33 goes out of the hoistway 23 can be shortened as much as possible, the possibility of falling objects falling into the lower region 23a is further reduced. be able to.

The control device 27 according to this embodiment has fifth to eighth functional units 85 to 88. The first functional unit 81 is a pile in a rising object detection state in which the fourth detection unit 54 detects an object and the third detection unit 53 does not detect an object when the loading table 16 is raised. The lifting device 22 is stopped. The sixth functional unit 86 positions the fall prevention member 33 at the retracted position in the rising object detection state. The seventh function unit 87 operates the pile lifting / lowering device 22 so that the loading table 16 is raised in a state where the fallen object preventing member is positioned at the retracted position. The eighth functional unit 88 is a fall prevention member when the third detection unit 53 that has detected the object shifts to a state in which no object is detected while the fourth detection unit 54 has not detected the object. 33 is positioned in the operating position.
In this embodiment, the fall prevention member 33 moves from the operating position to the retracted position while avoiding interference with the lifted object in the process of ascending the loading table 16, and then returns to the operating position. Therefore, according to this embodiment, since the period during which the fall prevention member 33 goes out of the hoistway 23 can be shortened as much as possible, the possibility of falling objects falling into the lower region 23a is further reduced. Can do.

  In the embodiment described above, the example in which the present invention is applied to the sheet supply apparatus 1 that supplies the sheet 3 to the printing apparatus 2 has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to such a limitation, and can be applied to other apparatuses. For example, the sheet supply apparatus according to the present invention may supply a sheet to a die-cutting apparatus that punches the sheet 3 into a predetermined shape, or may supply a sheet to a bending apparatus that performs bending on the sheet. Good.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Sheet supply apparatus, 2 ... Sheet-fed printing machine (sheet processing apparatus), 3 ... Sheet, 5 ... Sheet supply part, 11 ... Loading board, 15 ... Entrance opening, 16 ... Loading platform, 22 ... Pile raising / lowering apparatus, 23 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS: Hoistway, 23a ... Lower area | region, 23b ... Middle part, 23c ... Upper area | region, 27 ... Control apparatus, 33 ... Fall prevention member, 38 ... Air cylinder, 51 ... 1st detection means, 52 ... 2nd detection means 53... 3rd detection means 54... 4th detection means 81... 1st function part 82... 2nd function part 83. ... 5th functional part, 86 ... 6th functional part, 87 ... 7th functional part, 88 ... 8th functional part.

Claims (4)

A sheet supply unit that has a hoistway that rises in a state in which a large number of sheets are stacked, and that supplies the uppermost sheet in the hoistway to the sheet processing apparatus;
An entry opening that allows entry into the interior space of the sheet supply section including the hoistway;
A fall prevention member configured to be able to be put in and out of an intermediate portion between an upper region where the sheet being supplied in the hoistway is present and a lower region where a new sheet for replenishment is installed in a stacked state;
A drive device that moves the fall prevention member between an operating position in which the upper region and the lower region are partitioned and receives a fallen object from the upper region, and a retreat position that retreats from the hoistway;
First detection means for detecting the position of the fall prevention member;
Second detection means provided corresponding to the lower region and detecting an object passing through the entry opening;
When the second detection unit detects an object in a state where the first detection unit detects that the fall prevention member is not located at the operating position, the operation of the sheet supply unit is disabled. And a control device that enables operation of the sheet supply unit in a state in which the first detection means detects that the fall prevention member is positioned at the operating position. A sheet feeding device. The sheet feeding apparatus according to claim 1, wherein
A loading platform that supports a loading plate on which sheets are stacked and moves up and down the hoistway;
An elevating drive device for elevating the loading platform;
Third detection means for detecting an object in the upper region and in the vicinity of the fall prevention member;
A fourth detection means for detecting an object in the lower region and in the vicinity of the fall prevention member;
The control device stops the elevating drive device when the third detecting means or the fourth detecting means detects an object while the elevating drive device is being driven, and the fall prevention member is moved to the retracted position. A sheet feeding device that controls the operation of the driving device so as to be positioned. The sheet feeding apparatus according to claim 2, wherein
The control device includes:
The first driving unit stops the elevating driving device in the lowered object detection state in which the third detection unit detects an object and the fourth detection unit does not detect the object when the loading platform is lowered. A control unit of
A second control unit for positioning the fall prevention member at the retracted position in the falling object detection state;
A third control unit that operates the elevating drive device so that the loading platform descends in a state where the falling object preventing member is positioned at the retracted position;
The state in which the third detection unit detects an object shifts from the state in which the third detection unit has not detected the object to the state in which the fourth detection unit detects an object , and this object is detected. And a fourth control unit that positions the fall prevention member at the operating position when the fourth detection unit shifts to a state in which no object is detected. The sheet feeding apparatus according to claim 2, wherein
The controller is configured to move the elevating drive device in a rising object detection state in which the fourth detection unit detects an object and the third detection unit does not detect an object when the loading platform is raised. A fifth control unit for stopping
A sixth control unit for positioning the fall prevention member at the retracted position in the rising object detection state;
A seventh control unit that operates the elevating drive device so that the loading platform rises in a state where the falling object prevention member is positioned at the retracted position;
The state in which the fourth detection means detects an object shifts from the state in which the fourth detection means does not detect an object to the state in which the third detection means detects an object , and this object is detected. And a third control unit that positions the fall prevention member at the operating position when the third detection unit shifts to a state in which no object is detected.

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